Читать книгу Streets of New York - Mark Anthony - Страница 7

Lindsay heard her cellphone ringing as she drove home. She slowed her mind enough to answer. Wishing that Squeeze’s number would appear on her caller ID made her so excited, her heart palpitated. His presence had left her with a giddy feeling, she was riding high. Reality check: Mother again. “Hey mommy, I gotta call you back I’m driving home.”

“Lindsay have you been drinking? You sound like you drunk or you found Jesus. You best slow your role, girl.”

“Mommy, you worry too much. I’m alright. I just wanna get home early to fix up the place a little.”

“Why, are you expecting your main Squeeze to come by?”

“Mommy, gosh no. I didn’t tell you? Some of the girls from my class are dropping by to discuss accounting problems. Everyone likes my place.”

“Oh you’re hosting a party for the students of your favorite class?”

“Sump’n like that.”

“In that case have fun. I was gonna suggest we go out for a little mother and daughter dinner but since you’re busy and all. I mean you’ve been moping around the place and keeping me up on the phone. It’s a good thing you’ve got friends coming by. You need other human contact besides your mother.”

“Mommy don’t send me on a guilt trip. I said I’ll come by and get you tomorrow, and we’ll have a nice mother-daughter dinner okay?”

“Whatever you say. I’m not livin’ on your promises because you said the same thing yesterday. Now its tomorrow and you’re sayin’ the same thing again.”

“No mommy for real, for real, I’ll be there tomorrow. I gotta go, I got Five-Oh on my ass.”

“Get yourself one o’ them no-hands jammy.”

“Yes mom got to go, bye.”

“Drive safely, Lindsay. I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”

Lindsay stepped on the gas in her haste to get home. It was a good thing she had done what she did, even though Squeeze was kinda angry at least she got to see his ass. He was angry as fuck, she thought as she maneuvered the car.

It had been a good trip because she was sure Squeeze wasn’t dead and he would be coming through later tonight. She was sure of that. He always come and see her when she did something wrong.

It was always worth the make-up after he had shouted her down and scolded her. After that he would spank her naked ass with his bare hands. Lindsay smiled and pumped the radio volume. Lindsay thought about how she loved the sting his big hand would cause. She sang along to a remix by Mario featuring T.I. and Jada Kiss. Lindsay blasted the speakers of her car loudly as she chanted along.

“Baby you should let me love you let me love

You should let me love you give you everything…”

Lindsay was in a good mood even though she knew it came at some type of price tag. She felt it was worth the toll. The BMW sped along crossing from BK to Queens, Lindsay mentally counting down the hours before she would see Squeeze. Before she realized, Lindsay traveling exclusively in a state of elation reached her apartment building. She guided the car into a parking space, raced out the parking lot and skipped onto the elevator whistling happily.

There was pep in her step and a smile from ear to ear, which she shared with neighbors walking by. In the lobby, she saw a face that was familiar. It was Malik’s cousin. Strange, Lindsay thought.

“What’re you doing round here?” She asked and tried to hug the teen. He looked at her but didn’t answer then he backed away. Lindsay moved on. Maybe the jerky boy knows someone in this building. He was nervous, like I caught him creepin’ or sump’n. Their family is so large that they be knowing people from all over the city, Lindsay thought and kept moving.

She walked to her apartment and opened the door. Her whole body shook like she had just seen a ghost. Lindsay rushed to try to get back out the door. The teenage boy she’d passed in the lobby was standing outside her door. He pushed her back inside the apartment and yelled.

“This da bitch who set up Malik. This bitch is Squeeze’s down-bitch.”

Lindsay heard the door slam and the teenager speaking but did not understand much of what was said. Even though it was all Spanish, she was sure she heard him say the name Squeeze. In a hot New York minute, it dawned on her that this was some type of a setup and she could be a victim. She looked into the face of the guy who answered. He was smiling as he spoke.

“Really, not bad. Too bad this girl is pretty. But that bastard Squeeze must die and if she has to die also, then so be it.”

Again Lindsay didn’t understand what was being said. But she heard Squeeze’s name dropped. What could they want; what was this about? She dared to ask.

“Look I don’t know what this is all about but you got the wrong place. The Spanish family lives a couple doors down to the left. I’m black alright, and I know people who know some people who can clear up all this mess. If y’all don’t get your asses out of my…” Someone pulled out a gun and Lindsay froze. “Ah…there’s no need for no shooting,” she breathed. The surprised Lindsay decided that it would be easier to be cooperative. “You can take whatever you want. I have some dough stashed in the kitchen. I’ll get it and give it to you. Then you guys can leave.”

The fat guy laughed out loud and she knew he was making fun of her. Lindsay knew she had a gun hidden in the kitchen drawer. She really was too nervous to even shoot it. Pooh had shown her how to hold it. She’d never fired one before. Squeeze made her keep the gun, just in case. Lindsay gave up on her scheme when she heard the fat guy speak.

“If we wanted to take anything we don’t need your permission.” He growled. Then he continued in a softer tone: “We would simply take it. We’re just gonna be your guest until your boyfriend shows. Ha, ha, see we got some biz to settle with him and we’re having difficulties locating him. Until you came along.”

“Why don’t you meet him at the club? He’s there sometimes…”

“We tried there. Not happening,” the fat man smiled. “Sit down and chill out in your nice apartment. Let’s get to know each other, maybe I’ll let you live.”

Lindsay was shuddering so hard she glanced down to make sure that the floor wasn’t wet from her urinating. This was crazy. Someone had turned the radio up.

How did these four guys get up in her apartment? Her wits slowly returned and she made a connection. The super was the only other person with copies of her keys and he was Spanish. She’d heard something about Spanish people sticking together. It would be that much easier for them to bribe him and get in. A tremendous feeling of discomfort encircled Lindsay as she realized that she was imprisoned in her apartment.

“No one, nobody is gonna get hurt right. All y’all want to do is talk. And settle some business, right?” Lindsay tried to sound as positive as possible. They all smiled and nodded. She noticed that the teenager from outside, Malik’s cousin had left. That made her feel that the guys sitting in her apartment had other plans. There were three remaining, maybe she could get into the kitchen and get the gun. It was in the utensil drawer. Then what would she do? Lindsay wondered. “Just point it away from your body, take the safety off and pow.” Squeeze had told her.

“Anyone care for ah…drinks? A beer?” Lindsay asked. They all stared at her then nodded. This is it, Lindsay thought as she walked quickly into the kitchen. Someone followed her but didn’t really pay her no mind after she opened the refrigerator. Lindsay pulled out three bottles of beer and searched in the drawer for the bottle opener. She put her hand on the gun and slowly pulled it out. She made sure she took the safety off, then she bit her lips and pointed it away from her body. “All right! Y’all get your motherfucking asses outta here ‘fore I start shooting!” Lindsay commanded. They all acted surprised. One even went as far as immediately throwing his hands in the air. Then they all laughed. “I’m not playing around. Put your hands down.” Lindsay yelled out above the music. She glanced at the gun and then stared at them with an evil grill. “If there’s some reason that y’all didn’t understand me, then I’m gonna say it again: If y’all don’t get out right now, I’m gonna…Y’all give me no choice but to bust this shit on someone!” Lindsay shouted above the music. No one budged. They all waited to see what would happen next. Lindsay remembered hearing Squeeze voice in the back of her mind saying: “If you pull your gun, use it.”

Lindsay had made the decision to pull the gun out. She had them now. They were all seated waiting for beer speaking their Spanish lingo making her afraid. Now she had the upper hand she pointed the gun on them. “For the last time, please get y’all Spanish asses outta here!” She screamed.

“Or what?” The fat guy nonchalantly asked. “You’re not being a nice hostess.” He said wagging his fat index finger. The others nodded in agreement.

“I don’t care. Please get your fat ass out my sofa and take your friends with you. Now!” Lindsay said as she took deadly aim at the intruders. They must not have taken her serious because the one who had his hands raised called her bluff.

“Go ahead shoot us.” He yelled at her walking towards her with his hands opened and then he jumped at her. Lindsay had no choice but to pull the trigger. Click.

Nothing happened. All she heard was the spray of guttural laughter. “But you’re gonna need this.” He held a metal case. She didn’t understand at first until he said: “This fits on the bottom of your gun. It’s the magazine. Mira, this is where the bullets go.” Lindsay looked even more confused. “This is where the bullets for the gun go.” He repeated.

They all laughed some more. Fear gripped her tighter. She now realized that they had searched her place and left the empty gun for her to retrieve. Now they were certainly gonna hurt her, she thought.

Lindsay saw the notebook that Pooh had treasured. The one she’d kept after he was killed. She knew it was dear to her brother and looked at the pages littered across the kitchen floor. Lindsay instinctively bent down and started to retrieve all the pages. She was packing all the pages neatly as her unwanted guests drank beers. The tears finally started to flow.

How was this going to end? She wondered. What were they waiting for. They probably just wanted to torture her. One of them saw how neatly she’d packed the notebook and just before she bound it all together, he shouted to her when he saw the picture of her brother on the front page.

“Is that your man?” He asked as she stared down at the picture on the cover.

“No, that’s…He’s my brother. He was killed last year.” She said with finality.

“He’s your brother, hmm you don’t say? Your brother?” The fat man asked in disbelief. “What a small world.” He said to her then turned to his friends and started talking. “He is the Moreno we killed. The one who robbed Julissa.”

“You gotta be shitting me,” one of them said.

“Get the fuck out,” the other said.

Then they all looked at Lindsay. Their stare made her nervous. She knew immediately that whatever they were thinking couldn’t be anything good. They all converged on the notebook and each took it in hand and further examined it.

“Read a little sump’n, sump’n, let me see if homey had talents.” The jovial fat man said. Lindsay picked up the note book and leafed through it with tears clouding her eyes she started to read too low at first. “Ah you don’t have to be scared of us. I told you we don’t wanna hurt you. Go ahead read.”

Lindsay silently cursed the day she’d kept the notebook. She cleared her throat and began to read as requested.